Comparative Analysis of Economic Aspects of Growing Seedlings with Closed and Open Root Systems: The Experience of Russia

Abstract

An intensive increase in the area of clear-cutting on the territory of Russia leads to the growth of non-reforested areas. Therefore, successful reforestation requires higher attention and the use of new technological solutions for growing seedlings. The purpose of this work was to perform an economic assessment of the costs required for traditional and innovative technologies in growing seedlings of woody species with open and closed root systems under different cultivation conditions. The results of the comparative analysis showed that seedlings grown with closed root systems without heating in greenhouses in one rotation require minimum costs for growing. An increasing number of rotations in growing seedlings with closed root systems leads to a decrease in the production costs and makes seedlings of English oak competitive in price with seedlings grown by traditional technology. It has been established that the discounted ROI period for seedlings with a closed root system is 5.5 years. Hence, the transition to innovative technologies for the cultivation of forest planting material is necessary for the effective implementation of recreation processes for forestry of Russia.